6. There are 7.7 million internet users in Saudi Arabia as of 2008.
7. Internet was introduced late here because of the governments’ concern about the regulating of the content.
8. Blogging in Saudi Arabia has tripled to an estimated 2,000--Half of these are women.
9. In 2005 the government tried to ban the country’s primary blogging tool, www.blogger.com . The ban was lifted after a few days, but censors choosing to block specific content were established.Above: Saudi women are most of the populations internet users.
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11. They use Secure Computing’s Smart Filter Software to identify sites for blocking.
12. King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST) is responsible for overseeing Internet services in Saudi Arabia & for implementing governments censorship.
13. According to the Internet Services Unit (ISU) website, KACST is directly responsible for filtering pornographic content.Above: The logo is of the KACST
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15. There are also forms that Internet users may fill out to request sites they think should be blocked.
16. Over 90% of users try to access a blocked web site in Saudi Arabia.
17. The majority of the blocked sites have pornographic contents.
18. In 2001 Council of Ministers issued a resolution outlining content that Internet users are prohibited from accessing and publishing.
19. This forbids content “breaching public decency” material, “infringing the sanctity of Islam” , or “anything contrary to the state of its system.”
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21. It criminalizes the use of the Internet to defame or harm individuals and the development of the web sites that violate Sadui laws or Islamic values or that serve terrorist organizations. Above: Two pictures of the Chamber where the Saudi Shoura (Advisory) Council meets.
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23. Numerous sites relating to alcohol, drugs, gays, lesbians, sex education, and family planning were also inaccessible.
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26. Social content & web-based applications are extensively filtered.
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